M&E should be conducted at which stage of a program?Group of answer choicesImplementationPlanningClosingEvaluation

Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) should be conducted at all stages of a program. Here's why:

1. Planning: M&E helps in setting clear goals and objectives, and in identifying the necessary inputs, activities, outputs and outcomes. It also helps in identifying potential risks and assumptions.

2. Implementation: During this stage, M&E is used to track progress against planned activities, outputs and outcomes. It helps in identifying any deviations from the plan and in taking necessary corrective actions.

3. Evaluation: This is a critical stage where M&E is used to assess the effectiveness, efficiency, relevance and sustainability of the program. It helps in identifying the lessons learned and in making necessary adjustments for future programs.

4. Closing: Even at the closing stage, M&E is important to ensure that all activities have been completed and all outputs and outcomes have been achieved. It also helps in assessing the overall impact of the program.

So, M&E is not confined to a single stage of a program but is a continuous process that should be integrated into all stages of a program.